Spraying apparatus for shoe sole margins



Jam 19, 1954 MAESER 2,666,413

SPRAYING APPARATUS FOR SHOE SOLE MARGINS Filed Jan. 3, 1951 4 She'ets-Sheet l Jan. 19 1954 MAESER I SPRAYING APPARATUS FOR SHOE SOLE MARGINS Filed Jan. 5, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 19, 1954 MAESER 2,666,413

SPRAYING APPARATUS FOR SHOE SOLE MARGINS Filed Jan. 3, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 I I 6 38 J l 34* 40 66 J04 J03 100 T 33 O 4a 106 234 11 I A 10a 2 9 112 i 6 0 buenfar Patented Jan. 19, 1954 SPRAYING APPARATUS FOR SHOE SOLE MARGINS Mieth' Maeser, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application January 3, 1951, Serial No. 204,137

7 Claims.

This invention relates to spraying apparatus and is illustrated as embodied in a device for spraying ink on the peripheral face and'adjacent margin of the sole of a shoe.

In the finishing of shoe soles by the application of a colored liquid, hereinafter called ink, thereto, it is customary to apply the liquid largely by hand, as by the use of an ordinary tooth brush. Numerous devices have been provided for applying the liquid mechanically but difficulty has been found With such devices in restricting the material strictly to the surfaces to be coated with the result that many pieces of work have been spoiled and hand work is still largely in vogue.

It has been proposed to employ spraying appa ratus for applying the ink on such work. One diiiiculty inherent in such an apparatus results from the force in which the particles of spray contact the work with the result that a certain proportion of the particles bounce from contact with the work and soil the adjacent portion of the apparatus as well as daubing the work.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to devise an improved apparatus which will avoid these difiiculties and allow the operator to present pieces of work rapidly and continually.

To this end a feature of theinvention resides in an arrangement of the spraying apparatus such that a spray gun is contained within 2. casing but in spaced relation to the walls thereof and in providing means for exhausting the air from such casing so that surplus particles are drawn back away from the outlet of the apparatus and not allowed to soil either the work or the outer surfaces of the casing.

Another feature of the apparatus resides in a work-protecting slide positioned to move transversely of the outlet in engagement with one corner of the work. As herein illustrated, the guides for this slide are also utilized as guides for the work and are provided with terminal surfaces against which the periphery of a sole may be pressed as it traverses the outlet of the apparatus.

These and other features of the invention will best be understood from the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which. 7

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of theapparatus;

Fig. 2 is a detail section through the control valve on the line II-II of Fig. 1;

'Fig. 3 is a section taken transversely of the slide on the line III-III of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of part of the apparatus, showing also a supply receptacle;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line V-V of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through the center of the spray passages taken in a plane parallel to the plane of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on the line VII-- VII of Fig. 1 through the spraying apparatus taken in a plane normal to the plane of Fig, 6.

This spraying apparatus is shown as mounted upon a base H3 which may be part of the bench or part of a pedestal and comprises a post l2 having an offset arm M in whiohthere is a spacing bolt I6 swingably supporting a control valve 58, to be later described.

Also attached to the post and swingable upon a stud 20 is an arm 22 to which there is attached by screws 24 a spraying apparatus 26. This spraying apparatus comprises a two-part casing 28, 3% with the parts held together with screw studs 32. In the casing part 28 there is a cylindrical passage 34 (Fig. 6) having an upper enlarged portion 36 with a shoulder 38 interposed between the two. The top of the portion 35 is closed by a screw cap 31. 7 Set into this casing and spaced from the walls of the portion 34 is a spray gun 40 having an enlarged head 42 which substantially fits the portion of the casing abovethe shoulder 38 and rests upon that shoulder, against which it is clamped by a screw ring 44. The head lz has vertical grooves 43 (Fig. 5) in its periphery and these, with the wall of the enlarged portion 35 form exhaust passages for a purpose tobe later described. Disposed upon a vertical axis in the spray gun 4B are Venturi passages 46, 48 closed at the top by a screw 50 and having an air inlet port 52 supplied with air at 5 lbs. pressure per square inch through a passage as (Fig. 5) in a nipple 55 screwed in the side of the casing 28 and having a reduced inner end which fits in the inlet Dort 52.

Liquid is supplied at the reduced mid-portion of the Venturipassages 46, 48 by way of another port 6!) (Fig. 7) and through a passage in a sleeve .30 (Fig. 4).

To support the receptacle, an angle iron so is attached to the base It! by screws 92 and a cover plate 82 for the receptacle is fastened on the angle iron by nuts threaded on the reduced upper ends of depending hexagonal rods 88. A cross bar 86 is secured to the lower ends of the rods 88 and in this cross bar is threaded a hand screw 84 pressing against the bottom of the receptacle to clamp it against the cover plate 82.

Air under pressure delivered to the receptacle 88 through a conduit 94 pushes the liquid up through the conduit I into the inlet "[4 in the neck 84 of the spray apparatus as air under low pressure is delivered to the inlet port 52 through the nipple 55 (Fig. 5), the inner end of which fits in the enlarged head 42 of the spray gun thus causing the liquid to be driven from passage 48 as a spray. This head 42 is held against rotation by means of a setscrew 98, so that its inlet ports 52 and 68 will aline with the supply sleeves.

The lower portion 30 of the casing of the spray apparatus has a cylindrical rim I80 fitting over a depending neck I82 on-the upper portion. The rim adjoins a tapered passage I84 corresponding to but larger than the tapered outlet end I66 of the spray gun. The tapered passage I64 adjoins a cylindrical vertical outlet passage I88 formed as a surface of revolution about a vertical axis and terminating in a delivery opening i it which is formed by the intersection with the passage we of an inclined surface II 2 on the casing portion 38.

Against this inclined surface II2 there rests a slide I I4 with guide ribs I I5 which are received between shouldered side plates He and IIS (Fig. 3), the end surfaces 28 (Fig. l) of which are positioned opposite to about the mid portion of the outlet. These surface I serve as guides for the periphery of the sole I22 of a shoe S. The outer side I24 of the casing portion 30 projects into the crease C of the shoe thus cooperating with the guide surfaces I23 to guide the upper margin I25 of the sole as well as its periphery i213 in line with the spray issuing from the delivery opening I Ill.

The slide II4 has an end surface I (Fig. 6) which bears against the bottom corner of the periphery of the sole to prevent the sprayed liquid from passing around that corner onto the bottom of the shoe and inasmuch as the slide H4 is urged downwardly by a spring I34 its position is determined by the thickness of the sole and the width of the extension thereof. The upper end of the spring I34 bears against a cap plate I36 held to the side plates I I6, I I8 by screws. To insure a close contact between the slide and the inclined surface H2, a spring I48 (Figs. 1 and 3) is provided which bears against the lower surface thereof, this spring being wrapped around a stud I42 carried by the side plate I I8.

Because of the importance of preventing the ink from being spread beyond the limits of the area to be coated, as when the uppers are light colored, and to eliminate the difficulty due to spattering and the like, the upper chamber 36 of the casing 28 has an exhaust passage I59 in which fits a sleeve I52 (Fig. 7) having a Venturi passage 54 at the smallest part of which openings I55 are provided through which there will be drawn in the air and spray contained in the chamber 33. Air under about 10 lbs. pressure per square inch is delivered to this Venturi passage through a flexible conduit I58 and, if desired, a waste conduit I69 may be installed at the end of the Venturi tube. In this as well as in the spray gun a plain arrow has been usedto indicate the flow in an air passage and a feathered arrow to in dicate a flow of mixed air and liquid.

The flexible conduit I58 and a similar conduit I62 supplying air to the spray gun inlet passage 54 are joined to the casing I64 (Fig. 1) of the control valve I8. On the opposite side of this casing (Fig. 1) are similar conduits I65, I63 leading from the source of supply (not shown). Within the casing I64 is a slide I78 having lands spaced to be opposite to the supply pipes and passages such as that at H2 which permit the flow of air from the supply pipes to the delivery pipes I58, I62. Because of the shorter land opposite to the conduit I58 air under pressure will be supplied to the ejector Venturi sleeve i52 before it is supplied through the pipe IE2 to the spray gun thus insuring an exhaust suction before liquid is drawn into the spray gun. The slide H6 is pivotally connected to a lever I14 which swings upon a stud I15 on the post I2 and has a clamp member I78 joining it to a treadle operated rod I80 under the control of the operator.

The admission of liquid to the spray gun is also operator-controlled by this same treadle rod I82 which is connected to the valve rod 66 (Figs. 1 and 6) by means of a two-part bell crank I22, the lower part of which is split and clamped on the hub I84 of the forked upper part I86 positioned to engage a nut I88 on the treadle rod. Movement is imparted to the bell crank I82 by a collar I90 on the treadle rod I83 which engages the upper face of the bell crank I82 as the treadle rod is depressed. By suspending the valve I8 on the spacing bolt I6 there can be no binding of the slide Ill] in the casing I64 as the end of the lever I14 moves in an arcuate path.

It will be noted that the position of the spray gun and its casing 28, as may be adjusted to suit the operator by loosening a stud I82 passing through a slot I94 in the post I2, this stud being threaded in the arm 22 which carries the spray gun.

In the operation of the machine the sole of a shoe will be presented to the delivery opening II6 so that its periphery contacts with th ends I28 (Fig. 6) of the guide plates H6, H8. In so doing the slide I I4 will be pressed back while remaining in contact with the bottom corner of the sole. At the same time the upper of the shoe will rest against the surface I24 of the nozzle and will be protected thereby while the margin or extension of the sole is exposed to the spray.

Then, as the operator depresses the treadle connected to the treadle rod I80, he will open up the air supply to the exhaust passing through the conduit I58 and the air supply to the spray gun passing through the conduit I62 and will draw back the needle valve 66 which controls the supply of liquid to the spray gun. The shoe will then be turned to present successive portions of the periphery of the sole to the apparatus. In so doing, a sharp margin will be determined partly by the parts at the delivery opening HI] and partly because any surplus spray will be drawn up through the annular passage surrounding the spray gun and through the grooves 43 in the enlarged head portion thereof to be sucked in through the openings I56 of the Venturi passage in the sleeve I52 and thence out through the disposal pipe I68.

Ielaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secur y Letters Patent of the United States is:-

1. In a spraying apparatus, a standard, a spray nozzle thereon pointed down, a casing surrounding said spray nozzle and provided with an outlet opening in alinement therewith, means outside the opening for guiding a shoe with its sole extension beneath said outlet opening including a movable guard contacting the bottom corner of a sole extension to protect the bottom of the shoe, and means connected to said casing above said nozzle for producing suction in said casing to draw back surplus spray.

2. In a spraying apparatus, an annular casing closed at one end, a spray nozzle supported within said casing and spaced therefrom to provide a passage surrounding the end of the nozzle, said spray nozzle having a longitudinal passage, a supply pipe for liquid extending throughsaid annular casing and terminating in said passage, means for supplying air under pressure to said passage, suction exhaust means connected to the closed end of said casing, said casing being provided with an outlet opening adjacent to the end of the nozzle and in alinement therewith, and a work-engaging shield slidably mounted on said casing for movement across said outlet opening.

8. In a spraying apparatus, a casing having an outlet opening, said casing being provided with a tapered inner surface adjacent to said outlet opening and with a substantially cylindrical inner surface adjoining said tapered surface, a shoulder around said cylindrical surface, a spray gun comprising a cylindrical portion fitting said inner surface and having lengthwise grooves along its periphery, and a tapered nozzle portion, means for gripping said cylindrical portion against said shoulder thereby securing the tapered portion in spaced relation to the tapered portion of the casing, means for exhausting air from said casing through the grooves in the cylindrical portion, and means traversing said casing to supply liquid and air to said spray nozzle.

4. In a spraying apparatus, a casing having an outlet opening, means for delivering a spray to said opening, said casing having an outer surface inclined to the direction of the spray, and a work-displaceable slide mounted to move along said outer surface until it partially covers said outlet opening, the end of said slide having a work-engaging spray-control surface which is substantially parallel to the direction of the spray.

5. In a spraying apparatus, a casing having an outlet opening, means for delivering a spray to said opening, said casing having an outer surface inclined to the direction of the spray, a work-displaceable slide plate movably mounted on said outer surface for partially covering said outlet opening, the end of said slide having a work-engaging surface substantially parallel to the direction of the spray. and guides for the edges of said slide having terminal surfaces substantially normal to the inclined surface of the casing and serving as work-engaging guides whereby adjacent angularly disposed surfaces of a piece of Work, one of which rests against said guide terminals, may be treated by said spray.

6. In a spraying apparatus, a casing having an outlet passage formed as a surface of revolution, a spraying device in alinement with the axis of said surface, the outer surface of said casing adjacent to said outlet being inclined to the axis of the passage and providing at one side a tapered projecting portion adapted to be received in the crease of a shoe having an attached sole thus exposing a portion of the sole adjacent to said crease to the spray, and a slidably arranged, spring-impelled guard mounted for movement across said passage for engagement with the bottom corner of the sole of a shoe which is positioned by said projecting portion, regardless of its thickness, whereby the spray may be applied to the whole of the edge of the sole as the margin of its upper surface is also being coated.

7. In a spraying apparatus, a casing having a passage terminating in an outlet opening, the outer faces of said casing being both inclined to the axis of said passage and meeting to provide a sharp edge adjacent to one side thereof for reception in the crease of a shoe, guides on said casing adjacent to said outlet opening and terminating beside a mid portion thereof, and a spring-pressed slide in said guides having an end surface movable across the axis of said opening, said surface being adapted to be engaged by the bottom corner of the sole to protect the bottom surface thereof from being coated.

MIETH MAESER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland Mar. 28, 1907 

